frequently asked questions

Last Updated on Sunday, 15 September 2013 14:45

Q: Where do most of your students go after graduation?A: About 60 percent go to public school, 40 percent to a variety of private schools.

Q: Do they have difficulty adjusting?A: No. In fact, their training here better prepares them for the independence, academic choices, extra-curricular life, and peer pressure they will face in high school.

Q: Do you have field trips?A: Yes, about 5-6 per year.

Q: Are there after school activities?A: Yes, we run clubs at cost in areas like math, science, marching band, art, lego science, chess, cheerleading, knitting, creative writing, tap, drama, computer programming, volleyball, and skateboarding. There is daily after-school care for working parents till 6PM.

Q: Do parents have to volunteer or do fundraising?A: Absolutely not. But, there are opportunities to participate in a variety of activities. This entire website is an example of parent participation. We welcome volunteers for field trips, helping in arts and crafts, fundraising, and various classroom activities.

Q: Is there bussing?A: Bussing is provided by your local school district, free of charge, within 15 miles. The deadline is April 1 before the September start of school.

Q: What if I miss the bussing deadline?A: If you applied in time, you can change schools without a problem. If you missed the deadline you may still receive bussing if there is an empty seat on the bus, and it doesn't incur extra expense to your district.

Q: Is there an admission test?A: No, but there is a required one day visit, two days for grades 4 and up.

Q: What type of student does best at Progressive School?A: We seek students who show good concentration, an interest in learning, appropriate social skills and cooperative behavior. We can accommodate students who achieve far above grade level with ease due to our individualized academics. We can help remediate a very limited number of specific types of learning disabilities. This environment is not ideal for students with certain conditions such as ADD.

Q: Why do people enroll in your school?A: Four main reasons:1) Educational--parents want their child to move ahead and not be bored, parents want small classes with low student/teacher ratio.2) Cultural--parents seek an environment rich in music, art, crafts, dance, drama, cultural diversity, exposure to the classics and real cultural history3) Behavioral--parents seek a school where children interact positively, where their values are upheld, where moral guidelines are taught, modeled and

practiced; where there is a lofty philosophy

4) Philosophical--parents seek a meaningful education that addresses the whole person, that is focused on long term values, that is not driven by testing, that has at its heart a message of universal love and acceptance

Q: What is the make-up of your student population?A: We seek maximum diversity of economic, racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds.

Q: Where do your students come from?A: Many come from Baldwin, Long Beach, the Merricks, the Bellmores, East Meadow, Freeport, Rockville Centre, and then in smaller numbers from every town within 15 miles.

Q: Do you have a Physical Education program?A: Yes, our instructor works with the children once a week in a creative, thematic physical program, twice a week starting in Middle School. The classroom teachers supervise daily recess/sports activities on other days.

Q: Do you teach an instrument?A: Yes, recorder starting grade three. Guitar, keyboard and percussion are offered starting in grade five. We have a marching band with clarinet as an afterschool extra. We have a school band, and 5th/6th grade choir, a Middle School choir and band. Students who play instruments are often given new music, and can have their instrument incorporated into band, plays, concerts, and classroom activities by the music teacher; but instruments not listed above are not individually taught.

Q: Tell me about your foreign language program.A: We have immersion Spanish classes, starting in kindergarten. New students are easily accommodated into the experientially based Spanish activities of song, dance, play, story and cultural adventure. Spanish is twice weekly, and also incorporated into art classes each week.

Q: Tell me about your art program.A: Classes in art and in crafts are conducted weekly. Take a look at some samples online. The arts are also profoundly incorporated into regular classroom instruction.

Q: What's quiet time?A: This is a fifteen minute assembly for the entire school that starts the day. As students arrive, we help them to relax, focus, release tensions, and reflect. Quiet time includes yoga exercise, singing, and silent meditation.

Q: What about computers?A: Three to five computers with filtered internet connectivity are in each classroom for research, publishing, and educational games. Wireless laptops are also available in increasing quanitities from K-8. In grades 5-8 each student gets a mini-computer the size of a soap dish for Technology class, and classwork.